He quickly run towards her, he removes his gloves and placed his hand on her forehead. She has a fever. Fergus notice the commotion and run to ask for help, while limping with his cane. Later Edmund arrive with the carriage and they placed her there. They immediately head back to Lenin.

On the way, Stine was uneasy. He glances at Laina’s box that has a few more hearts left compared when they first started. He places the snow globe inside her basket.

Upon arriving at their house, they immediately settled Laina in her room. She is still unconscious so Stine had to administer the medicine little by little. He checks her pulse and temperature from time to time. Her fever settled down a bit and when Margaret came, she washes Laina and change her clothes.

“Doctor, have you had dinner already?” Margaret asks.

“I’m not hungry” he replies.

Stine is restless, he couldn’t sit still and kept pacing inside the room. Seeing his state, Margaret had Stine leave the room and get some fresh air and that it might disturb Laina who is taking a rest.

He notices what he has been doing and left the room. He went into the garden to settle down but he couldn’t take his mind off of something. He became more and more concerned for Laina.

Stine returns back to the room and saw Margaret caressing the unconscious girl’s red hair. Margaret notices him enter the room but her eyes didn’t leave Laina’s face for a moment.

“She’s a wonderful girl.” She commented.

Stine sat at a chair right next to the bed and with silence observe them.

“In just a few days she changes the way she speaks with us.” Margaret remarks.

‘Yet somehow we still don’t know who she is or where she came from’ Stine thought to himself.

Laina wakes up after a few moments. She notices that she is already in bed with Margaret and Stine sitting right next to her. In that moment, Stine had Margaret get some food.

“Take it easy, you fainted earlier. Just sit still” Stine says as he adjusts the pillow so Laina could sit properly.

Margaret arrived with some food and fruits enough for the Stine and Laina to eat.

“Why don’t you go ahead and rest for the night Margaret, I’ll take care of her.”

Margaret left the room and they were left alone. The room was filled with silence as they eat their food. Laina is still feeling weak so Stine slices the apples and handed her the pieces. She took a small bite and chew slowly as if in deep thought.

“Mister?” Laina asks in her weak voice.

“Yes, Laina?”

“How do you know if someone is real?”

Stine is caught in surprise. He doesn’t know what to say

“Am I real? I couldn’t remember where I came from or where I got the hearts? What are those hearts?”

Laina cries bitterly asking questions that Stine doesn’t have the answers. He got a hold of himself and comforted her.

“Shh, it’s okay. You’re just tired”

She cries while Stine hugs her head.

“Mister…Do I have a heart?”

Stine froze for a moment as Laina looks up to him and stares in his eyes. Without saying a word, he hugs the girl tighter and caress her hair.

Morning came and there wasn’t much for them to do. Stine plan to have Laina rest for the entire day. Margaret requested to help Cynthia to finish up the work that has accumulated. Edmund covered for her and took care of the horse and the garden.

When Laina woke up she found herself alone in her room with a small amount of food on a table right next to her bed. She went down the stairs and to the garden where Stine was watering the flowers, helping Edmund. She is still wearing her pajamas with her hair braided by Margaret last night as she sat by the doorway and just watch silently while glancing every now and then.

Laina remains silent and didn’t further their conversation from last night even when they were left alone. Stine didn’t inquire much further about the matter as he doesn’t want to stress her. She was trying hard to be cheerful as she was before but Stine notices and know that she is somehow holding back.

Night came and Laina was feeling better. They were joined by Edmund and Margaret at Dinner. The conversation is heart-warming especially for Laina and Stine. She went on to tell Margaret of how Edmund showed her how to take care of the horses.

After dinner they heard a knock on the door. Margaret opens it and recognizes the straw bonnet, she then called for Stine.

“Cynthia, what a surprise. Please come in.” Stine offers.

“I just want to thank you Doctor”

They sat at the living room with Laina while Margaret serve them some drinks and crumpets.

Cynthia began to tell her story. Her father’s death a few months back affected her so much than she expected. He wasn’t her only relative but she’s very close with him. She couldn’t focus and work would pile up day after day. She was able to take a breather when Stine had Margaret to help.

“I would like to buy a heart. How much is it.”

“Just a genuine smile.” Laina replies with a big smile on her face

Cynthia let out a laugh thinking that it was a joke, but was surprised when Laina went to her room, grab her a heart then handed it out to her. Still a little confused she thank them both and left while pushing the box against her chest.

“We made a difference in her life, Laina. Because she wasn’t afraid of saying what’s on her mind” Stine remarks while she glances at Laina who’s looking at Cynthia who’s getting farther away.